Learn About Depression
Depression FAQ » Learn About Depression » side effects of lexapro

side effects of lexapro

For more information about: side effects of lexapro visit the depression site DepressionLearning.com today.

Q: what are the side effects of lexapro? any personal experiences with the drug?
my doctor wants to put me on lexapro for my generalized anxiety disorder. i just wanted to know how this medicine has effected other people who have taken it. do you think i will gain weight, will it put me in a fog? any info is very helpful. thank you.

A: It really helped me and I never had any side effects. You won’t gain weight, I actually lost a little but not that much. But it is a really good medicine for anxiety. You do see a big difference in yourself a month later after taking it.

Q: How long will side effects of Lexapro last?
I was prescribed Lexapro for anxiety this past week, and just took the first 10mg pill last night at around 8 p.m., right after I ate dinner. I immediately felt sick to my stomach and nauseous and couldn’t get to sleep. Around midnight, I vomited and had some diarrhea. Just curious if anyone else has experienced these symptoms, and how many days I should expect to have them before contacting my doctor?
Should I continue to take the medication throughout the weekend?

A: my boyfriend had taken that and while he did not suffer any of your symptoms, he did expierience sexual side effects. You should wait out the weekend then call the doctor

Q: what’s better with fewer side effects lexapro or effexor?
thinking about switching from lexapro to effexor, what has fewer side effects? Most things upset my stomach(diarrhea) and lexapro has actually calmed it down a lot. Sex drive??? Does effexor make you sleepy because lexapro sure does but then I get burst of energy. Need some insight.

A: Are you getting other therapy besides meds? Try to get a really good therapist who does cognitive techniques and get off the anti-depressants, My son was on effexor for years and it made him gain about 200 pounds and he was stable but still unpleasant to be around.

Then he was on Paxil and it was about the same. He is off all that now and makes the most progress when he has people around him that believe in him.

His OCD has disappeared since he went off those meds, he never had it will he was on those meds, make your own conclusions.

I certainly do not advocate going off meds alone with no help, I know they helped him initially but be careful and find the roots of the problem with a therapist and get off them eventually.

Q: Just started Lexapro – side effects already?
I just started takig Lexapro yesterday. My question is: if I were going to have a severe allergic reaction to it, wouldn’t that have happened afte the first dose? I suffer from hypochondria as well anxiety and depression, and tonight I thought for sure my tongue was swelling up and my jaw was clenching up, but part of me wants to say it’s just my hypochondria, chill out. Then I thought, if you were going to have a reaction like that, it would’ve happened yesterday too. Any thoughts?
Thanks to everyone who answered. Right now it’s the next morning, and I know now that it was my anxiety/hypochondria. I felt horrible all night though, very shaky and nauseous, so I’m going to talk to my doctor today.

A: I’m not a doc, but I think you may be letting your mind wander. Lexapro is a very mild anxiety medication with very few known side effects. I know many people who take it, including myself and I have never known anyone to have any serious side effects. Some have had more energy, or less energy. But try to stay calm and let the lexapro do what it should–help you.

Q: How long does it take for the side effects of Lexapro to where off?
I only take the 10s for 4 days and I feel a little sick for a couple of hours after I take em.

A: Usually it takes at least a few weeks. If you haven’t already, try taking them with food or at night before bed.

Q: How long will it take the withdrawal side effects of Lexapro to subside?
This is the worst drug I have ever been on. How many zombies out there get hooked to these drugs because it is too mentally challenging to stop taking them? I’ve tried several times to stop taking it but after three or four days it was easier to just pop another pill. I am going on two weeks without and my brain feels like mashed potatoes. I am experiencing jitteriness, brain “zaps”, ringing in ears, very vivid dreams/nightmares, confusion, memory problems and just an overall brain haze. Can anyone tell me when I’ll get back to “normal”?

A: have you discussed this with your doctor yet? They can help with these symptoms. you are never supposed to go off a brain drug, without weaning off first. Unless you get help, can last for weeks, my friend, tell somebody what your dealing with, that can help you. no need to suffer. I feel for you, peace out!!!

Q: What are the sexual side effects of Lexapro?
My doctor has me taking a sample; I took one and now here I am online reading of things like “massive, damaging erections”. Man, I gotta go to work in a few hours; I’m not gonna get a massive erection am I?

A: 6. Are there side effects with Lexapro?
Lexapro is well tolerated by most people. The most commonly reported side effects of Lexapro are nausea, insomnia, problems with ejaculation, somnolence, increased sweating, fatigue, decreased libido, and anorgasmia. Most of the side effects experienced by patients taking Lexapro are mild to moderate and go away with continued treatment, and usually do not cause patients to stop taking Lexapro.

http://www.lexapro.com/faq/about_lexapro.aspx#q07

Q: What are the good side effects of Lexapro? How and how soon does it work?

A: I take generic Wellbutrin SR (150 mg) in the morning, and Lexapro (10 mg) with dinner, for depression and anxiety. I’ve been taking that for over two years, and it’s working very well for me.

The Wellbutrin SR seems to help me to be more alert and active – and wanting to do things – while the Lexapro makes me more mellow, and it helps me sleep better, too. They are relatively low doses of each medication, which keeps side effects at a minimum. I really can’t tell I’m taking any medication at all.

The good side effects… you’ll feel better – if you’re suffering from depression. It has really helped me a LOT!

It takes a couple weeks to start working, and four to six weeks to build to it’s “full effective” level.

If you’re thinking of taking Lexapro, and they want to put you on more than 10 mg, consider taking Wellbutrin SR instead of increasing the Lexapro. That keeps the side effects of the Lexapro down (drowsiness and sexual).

One more thing… I’ve found (by experimenting) that taking my Lexapro with dinner works the best for me – I sleep better at night, and I’m more awake the next day.

Q: What are some side effects of Lexapro?
My doctor just perscribed it to me and said that i can loose my sex drive and also gain weight. How often does this occur in women my age? I’m 19.

A: SIDE EFFECTS: The most commonly-noted side effects associated with escitalopram are agitation or restlessness, blurred vision, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping, drowsiness, dry mouth, fever, frequent urination, headache, indigestion, nausea, increased or decreased appetite, increased sweating, sexual difficulties (decreased sexual ability or desire, ejaculatory delay), taste alterations, tremor (shaking), weight changes. Although changes in sexual desire, sexual performance and sexual satisfaction often occur as a result of depression itself, they also may be a consequence of the drugs used to treat depression. In particular, about one in 11 men given escitalopram report difficulties experiencing ejaculation.

Some patients may experience withdrawal reactions upon stopping SSRI therapy. Symptoms may include dizziness, tingling, tiredness, vivid dreams, irritability, or poor mood. In order to avoid these symptoms, the dose of SSRI can be slowly reduced instead of abruptly stopped.

It has been suggested that SSRIs may cause depression to worsen and even lead to suicide in a small number of patients. These potential side effects are difficult to evaluate in depressed patients because depression can progress with or without treatment, and suicide is itself a consequence of depression. Moreover, the evidence supporting these potential side effects is weak. Therefore, no conclusions can yet be drawn about the relationship between SSRIs and worsening depression and suicide. Until better information is available, patients receiving SSRIs should be monitored for worsening depression and suicidal tendencies.

Q: What are the effects and ’side effects’ of Lexapro and Seroquel?
What are the effects and ’side effects’ of Lexapro and Seroquel?
My Psychiatrist put me on these two meds, and I don’t remember what each was for or any adverse reactions I might have?

A: The most commonly observed adverse events in Lexapro patients (incidence of approximately 5% or greater and approximately twice the incidence in placebo patients) were insomnia, ejaculation disorder (primarily ejaculatory delay), nausea, sweating increased, fatigue, and somnolence.

For seroquel, the first number represents incidents under the listed side-effect for patient trials with the drug, the second number represents those given a placebo.

Gastrointestinal Disorders
=====================
Dry mouth 12% 1%
Constipation 6% 5%
Dyspepsia 5% 2%

Nervous System Disorders
=====================
Sedation 13% 7%
Somnolence 12% 4%
Dizziness 10% 4%

Vascular Disorders
===============
Orthostatic hypotension 7% 5% (High BP)

Q: I just started taking lexapro side effects question?
I keep feeling like almost a high kind of feeling and out of sorts wondering if this goes away with time… any recommendations thanks…

A: I also just started taking Lexapro…8 days ago. You don’t say the mg. amount. I’m taking 10 mg. and don’t really feel any negative or positive result with it yet. You said you’re feeling high. Well were you feeling low before because it’s used as an antidepressent and to relieve anxiety. If it’s helping with the depression for you, then that’s good. But if the high that you’re describing is meaning you’re more anxious then that isn’t good.

Doctors usually tell us to take a psychiatric medicine for 6 to 8 wks. before discounting it…unless of course you have severe adverse effects…then I’d tell you’re doctor right away. Our bodies are all different so we react to drugs differently. It’s up to you whether you feel you should notify your doctor of anything right now….or wait until your next scheduled appt. My next appointment to see the psychiatrist is about 4 weeks from when she first perscribed Lexapro. So I would be able to somewhat know whether it’s beneficial by then or not. Good Luck to you on your search.

Q: From experience, what are the side-effects of Lexapro?
I was taking Zoloft but was recently changed to Lexapro to better help my anxiety, I’m slowly getting off of the Zoloft at the moment and was wondering what are the side-effects that people have gotten from Lexapro and how long has it lasted?

A: Lexapro is a very good dual anti depressant working on both ends of the spectrum in depressed patients.
It used to be Celexa at one time, but Lexapro is a drug that is actually Celexa, more refined and more expensive and taking the things out of it that cause the side effects.
I know you can webmd this but it can cause jitteriness, anxiety at first and maybe for some sleeplessness.
Others have an oppostie reaction.
It is a very good drug I think and if you dont like this than you are not fit for this class of drug and maybe want to try something totally different.
It may take about 3-6 weeks to get used to it, so start low, take in the AM and move up on the dose as the doctor decides. You might want to ask for an anti anxiety med for awhile like Klonopin
Good Luck
Your assistant

Q: Are these side effects with Lexapro normal?
-I’ve gotten nauseous, almost to the point of throwing up.
-I feel verrrry spaced out, almost to where I dont feel familiar with where i am.
-my sense of hearing is heightened, and every little sound makes me jump
-I’ve had a small headrush
-My eyes are dilated, and im very sleepy.
-Last night I stayed up till 2 am zoned into the discovery channel , and woke up at 5 am, could not go back to sleep.

A: Kati…all may be side effects of Lexapro, but should not last more than a few days to a week. Try taking it at bedtime so you can sleep through the worst of the nausea and sleepiness. Lexapro is known for having less intense side effects than other SSRI medications. I have taken it myself and only had side effects two or three days.

We all do react differently to these and other kinds of medications so it problems continue past a week or so, you should talk to your doctor.

Q: Antidepressants, Lexapro side effects if you decrease it or stop it?
I’ve been on Lexapro for about 6 mo.s for depression. I don’t notice a huge difference, I think it may have helped some. I still have the same anxiety.

I started gaining weight, 10lbs so far, and don’t want to keep taking it if I could do without it, as I take so much other medication. I hope to get off of much of it; try more natural things, and most are very expensive.
I’ve heard of people taking it for a period.

I hope I can find information here about how it feels to get off of it, or even if I reduce it to 5mg. I take 10mg now.
What type of side effects, how severe, for how long. How long will I be a menace? Kidding.
I have been pretty sensitive to getting on and off meds in the past, meaning I get side effects. I can tolerate it and ‘get through it’ if it’s not too horrible.

I forgot to take the Lexapro for a day or two in the beginning. when I was traveling. Boy did I have crying spells, which I’ve never had, and felt bad. I didn’t make the connection until later.

A: I am on Lexapro and have been longer than you have. You really should consult your doctor but it you choose to go off without help cut to 5mg for a week or so the every other day for about a week and see how you feel then. You can gauge what you need to do by the way you feel. Not everyone will have the same withdrawal symptoms.

Q: What are side effects of Lexapro? Does anyone grit their teeth?
Im constantly have lock jaw and grit my teeth. Is this something to do with lexapro?

A: When I was first put on Zoloft it made me grit my teeth very badly. I’ve been on Lexapro for about a week now and so far I haven’t had that. You may need to lower the dosage just a little bit.

Related Posts

Write a comment